The NFL doled out STRICT penalties this morning in the wake of their three-year investigationg that exposed a New Orleans Saints bounty program, and the 49ers stand to benefit from the fallout this season.

Simply put, Sean Payton (suspended a year) won’t be coaching the Saints when the 49ers visit New Orleans, and blitz-happy defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (suspended indefinitely) won’t be serving in that capacity for the St. Louis Rams in their two NFC West encounters with the defending division champion 49ers.

The Saints, an NFC powerhouse that the 49ers eliminated in last season’s divisional playoffs, drew enough punishment that they’ll be impacted “big time,” as 49ers icon Jerry Rice posted on his Twitter account.

Other penalties:

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— Payton comes out looking real bad in the league’s release, and not just because he’s been kicked out of the league for a year. The league accuses himsomeone of sending Payton an e-mail contributing to a bounty on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. (49ers sidenote: Alex Smith is not mentioned among the quarterbacks who had bounties on them, a group including Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, Cam Newton and Rodgers.)

— The Saints have been fined $500,000 and have forfeited their second-round picks in the 2012 and 2013 drafts.

— Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has been suspended without pay for the first eight games.

— Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt is suspended without pay the first six regular-season games.

— The reinstatement status of Williams, who left to join the Rams this offseason, will be reviewed by commissioner Roger Goodell at the end of the 2012 season.

— Per the league’s release, “The Saints and the individuals disciplined today are expected to participate in efforts led by the league office to develop programs that will instruct players and coaches at all levels of the game on the need for respect for the game and those who participate in it, on principles of fair play, safety and sportsmanship, and to ensure that bounties will not be part of football at any level.”

— Here is the rest of the NFL’s statement:

Commissioner Goodell stated that the actions of the individuals disciplined today violated league rules and constituted conduct detrimental to the league and players. He said the existence of a pay-forperformance/bounty program undermined the integrity of the game. The violations were compounded by the failure of Coach Payton to supervise the players and coaches and his affirmative decision starting in 2010 (a) not to inquire into the facts concerning the pay-for-performance/bounty program even though he was aware of the league’s inquiries both in 2010 and 2012; (b) to falsely deny that the program existed; (c) to encourage the false denials by instructing assistants to “make sure our ducks are in a row;” and (d) to ignore instructions from the league office and club ownership to ensure that no such program existed.

“Beyond the clear and continuing violations of league rules, and lying to investigators, the bounty program is squarely contrary to the league’s most important initiatives – enhancing player health and safety and protecting the integrity of the game,” Commissioner Goodell said. “Let me be clear. There is no place in the NFL for deliberately seeking to injure another player, let alone offering a reward for doing so. Any form of bounty is incompatible with our commitment to create a culture of sportsmanship, fairness, and safety. Programs of this kind have no place in our game and we are determined that bounties will no longer be a part of the NFL.”

A 2007 amendment to the NFL Constitution and By-Laws obligated coaches and supervisory employees “to communicate openly and candidly with the principal owner and/or his designated representative; to ensure that club ownership is informed on a complete and timely basis of all matters affecting the club’s operations; and to avoid actions that undermine or damage the club’s reputation or operating success.” The obligation to supervise the coaching staff and players is also expressly set forth in the employment agreement signed by Coach Payton.

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Commissioner Goodell said he will separately address potential sanctions for players and others with documented involvement in the bounty program.

“While I will not address player conduct at this time, I am profoundly troubled by the fact that players – including leaders among the defensive players – embraced this program so enthusiastically and participated with what appears to have been a deliberate lack of concern for the well-being of their fellow players,” Commissioner Goodell said. “While all club personnel are expected to play to win, they must not let the quest for victory so cloud their judgment that they willingly and willfully target their opponents and engage in unsafe and prohibited conduct intended to injure players.”

While NFL staff has interviewed people in connection with public allegations of bounty programs at other clubs, no evidence was established showing that the programs at other clubs involved targeting opposing players or rewarding players for injuring an opponent. Commissioner Goodell emphasized that if additional information is brought to his attention that discloses bounties offered for injuring specific opposing players, he will revisit the matter to consider additional discipline.

The findings in the league’s investigation, corroborated by multiple independent sources, conclusively established the following:

1. The Saints defensive team operated a pay-for-performance/bounty program, primarily funded by players, during the 2009, 2010, and 2011 seasons. Under that program, players regularly made cash “donations” to a pool, and were “fined” for mental errors, loafing, penalties, and the like. At least one assistant coach (defensive coordinator Gregg Williams) also occasionally contributed to the pool. There is no evidence that any club money was contributed to the program.

2. Payments were made for plays such as interceptions or fumble recoveries. All such payments are against league rules. Payments also were made for plays on which opposing players were injured. In addition, specific players were sometimes targeted. The investigation showed bounties being placed on four quarterbacks of opposing teams – Brett Favre, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, and Kurt Warner. Multiple sources have confirmed that several players pledged funds toward bounties on specific opposing players, with defensive captain Jonathan Vilma offering $10,000 to any player who knocked Brett Favre out of the NFC Championship Game in 2010.

3. Coach Williams acknowledged that he designed and implemented the program with the assistance of certain defensive players. He said that he did so after being told by Saints Head Coach Sean Payton that his assignment was to make the defense “nasty.” Coach Williams described his role as overseeing record keeping, defining payout amounts, deciding on who received payouts, and distributing envelopes with cash to players who “earned” rewards.

4. In each of the 2009-2011 seasons, the Saints were one of the top five teams in the league in roughing the passer penalties. In 2009 and 2011, the Saints were also in the top five teams in unnecessary roughness penalties; in 2010, the Saints ranked sixth in the category. In the January 16, 2010 divisional playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saints defensive players were assessed $15,000 in fines for fouls committed against opposing players. The following week, in the NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saints defensive players were assessed $30,000 in fines for four separate illegal hits, several of which were directed against quarterback Brett Favre.

5. Coach Williams now acknowledges that when he was first questioned about this matter in early 2010 he intentionally misled NFL investigators and made no effort to stop the program after he became aware of the league’s investigation.

6. Coach Williams further confirmed that the program continued during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, and that he occasionally contributed funds to the pool in each of those seasons.

7. Assistant Head Coach/Defense Joe Vitt acknowledged that he was aware of the program in 2009-2011. He admitted that, when interviewed in 2010, he “fabricated the truth” to NFL investigators and denied that any payfor-performance or bounty program existed at the Saints.

8. Coach Vitt said one of his primary roles was to monitor the activity of Coach Williams. This was based on the direction of Coach Payton, who apparently had less than full confidence in Coach Williams. Despite Coach Vitt’s knowledge of the bounty program, his understanding of the terms “knock-out” and “cart-off,” his witnessing Coach Williams handing out envelopes that he believed to contain cash, and his acknowledgement that the defensive meeting preceding the 2010 NFC Championship Game may have “got out of hand” with respect to Brett Favre, Coach Vitt claimed he never advised either Coach Payton or General Manager Mickey Loomis of the “pay-for-performance/bounty” program.
9. A summary prepared following a Saints preseason game included the statement, “1 Cart-off – Crank up the John Deer (sic) Tractor” in reference to a hit on an opposing player. Similar statements are reflected in prepared documents or slides in connection with other games in multiple seasons. A review of the game films confirms that opposing players were injured on the plays identified in the documents.

10. When interviewed in 2012, Sean Payton claimed to be entirely unaware of the program, a claim contradicted by others. Further, prior to the Saints’ opening game in 2011, Coach Payton received an email from a close associate that stated in part, “PS Greg Williams put me down for $5000 on Rogers (sic).” When shown the email during the course of the investigation, Coach Payton stated that it referred to a “bounty” on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

11. In early 2010, Mr. Loomis advised Coach Payton that the league office was investigating allegations concerning a bounty program. Coach Payton said that he met with his top two defensive assistants, Coach Williams and Coach Vitt, in advance of the interview with league investigators and told them, “Let’s make sure our ducks are in a row.” Remarkably, Coach Payton claimed that he never inquired of Coach Williams and Coach Vitt as to what happened in the interviews, never asked them if a “pay-for-performance” or bounty program was in fact in place, and never gave any instructions to discontinue such a program.

12. In January 2012, prior to the Saints’ first playoff game of the 2011 season, Coach Payton was advised by Mr. Loomis that the league office had reopened the investigation. Coach Payton made a cursory inquiry but took no action to ensure that any bounty program was discontinued.

13. General Manager Mickey Loomis was not present at meetings of the Saints defense at which bounties were discussed and was not aware of bounties being placed on specific players. Mr. Loomis became aware of the allegations regarding a bounty program no later than February 2010 when he was notified of the investigation into the allegations during a meeting with NFL Executive Vice President-Football Operations Ray Anderson. He was directed to ensure that any such program ceased immediately. By his own admission, Mr. Loomis did not do enough to determine if a pay-for-performance/bounty program existed or to end any such program that did exist.

14. Saints owner Tom Benson notified Mr. Loomis in January 2012 prior to the team’s participation in the playoffs that the league’s investigation had been reopened. Mr. Benson reiterated his position that a bounty program was unacceptable and instructed Mr. Loomis to ensure that if a bounty program existed at the Saints it would stop immediately. By his own admission, Mr. Loomis responded to this direction by making only cursory inquiries of Coaches Payton and Williams. He never issued instructions to end the bounty program to either the coaching staff or the players.

15. There is no evidence that Saints ownership had any knowledge of the pay-for-performance or bounty program. There is no evidence that any club funds were used for the program. Ownership made clear that it disapproved of the program, gave prompt and clear direction that it stop, and gave full and immediate cooperation to league investigators.

Cam Inman

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I still think that, if the NFL really wanted to nail the Saints, rather than hitting them with a $500,000 fine (especially when that money means virtually nothing to a billion dollar organization), they should have deducted $5 or $10 million from the Saints’ salary cap.

Beth

WE LOVE YOU SEAN!!! Thank you for all you and your family have done for New Orleans. We know about hard times, and everyone kicking you when you are down – your city, your who dat nation love you!

Hang tough, enjoy some time with your family and know your fans are rooting for you!

Modes

I don’t think there is any question that the 500k is the least of their punishment. But I am quite certain that the saints were nailed and nailed damn hard. 2 Second round draft picks is huge. Payton gone for a year without pay is gigantic. Williams may never coach again. Goodell smashed the saints much harder than anyone expected.

The message is pretty clear to the rest of the league.
Bounty systems and lying to the commissioner aren’t going to result in a slap on the wrist. The league will rip your arm off at the shoulder and beat you with it. That’s what the league office is loudly proclaiming to all 32 teams with these sanctions.

david u

The Saints are toast. And if you’re Drew Brees, in your mid-30s with the window for a championship closing, and you don’t like the franchise tag, do you stick around? Not to mention that your best offensive lineman just walked away to Tampa….

Brees to the Jets. Let’s just start the rumor now.

Optimism is Overrated

Sorry but two 2nd round picks, a $500K fine and losing your coach for a year is really a slap on the wrist. The coach who was suspended indefinitely doesn’t even work for the Saints anymore.

I agree that the individuals got nailed hard (especially Payton and Williams) … and they should have been … but the NFL effectively said that this is only marginally worse than the whole Patriots Spygate thing a few years ago.

Let’s make this clear … the Saints allowed (and fostered) a program to be put in place that targeted specific opposing players to be hurt. This wasn’t like Ronnie Lott hitting someone hard during a game … this was a systematic attempt to inflict injury on key players. If the head coach can lose his $8 million salary then the Saints should have had to return all profits from 2011.

Ceadderman

#1… Agreed. 500k is just their tissue money.

#2. I don’t think they got hit hard at all except for the Payton suspension. Should have lost more than a #2 for 2 years that’s for sure.

#3… doubtful, I doubt that Brees goes anywhere cause he’s getting paid fair market value for a QB. Top 5 money. He DOESN’T have to worry about a bounty program with his name on it. He should but he doesn’t. Payton will be back next year and it’s business as usual.

I’m kind of surprised with the hammer Goodell used on the Saints. He let Bellicheat dance his way out of his office without supplying all the tapes and then promptly “disposed of them” so nobody could see whether or not Bellicheat made a habit of this. Should have suspended that sucker for longer than a year over SpyGate that’s for certain.

I don’t care what the investigation says, Benson knew about the program prior to the League informing him. He had to know. You think Eddie D didn’t know what happened with his teams? If I own a team, and you work for me, I know what goes on with my team because you represent the organization and myself. What you do on and off the field reflects back on me. Benson knew. If he truly didn’t, he’s a bad owner. But I don’t buy that he didn’t know. Goodell just didn’t want to suspend an owner. That doesn’t reflect well on the game either. Look at Eddie D. Suspended from the league and cannot get named to Canton as a result. Goodell didn’t want his friend to end up in the same situation.

EBNinerFan

go read the Saints beat writer report and check out their fans’ reactions.

Tell me they think it’s a slap on the wrist. Most of them are either in denial that their team did anything wrong to begin with. The rest of them think Goodell’s got some vendetta against the franchise.

Kind of sad and comical at the same time.

WTF

While I understand the comparisons to the so called “Spygate”, they are not the same thing. I have no admiration for Bill Bellichek, but all he did was have a guy film another team’s practice. That may infringe on the idea of fair play, but hardly something that is detrimental to the reputation of the NFL or it’s players.

This situation on the other hand is exactly the kind of thing that makes the league look bad, as well as any of the players involved. In the spygate issue they over-reacted. With this situation, they didn’t do enough. I completely disagree that the Patriots didn’t get punished enough and using this issue to justify that position is just plain wrong. You are comparing apples to oranges.

Now, to put my opinion in perspective, I believe punishing either situation is stupid. It’s the NFL, they all make incredible amounts of money on a physical, intense and some would say, barbaric sport. Get over yourselves you fair weather, politically backward fans! Wanna film another team’s workout, go ahead. Pay players for injuring other players? Already do, that’s how some earn a paycheck to begin with. Heck, let them use steroids if they want. They already sacrifice their bodies and minds for their money, why be hypocritical about how they do it?

Optimism is Overrated

@WTF … just a clarification: as I understand it, Bellichek did much more than film another team’s practice. Spygate was all about the Patriots having a someone film the other team’s hand signals and connecting that with the defensive alignment that was called on that particular play. The Patriots then used that to know what defense the other team was going to call and audibling the right offensive play.

Filming another team’s practice is bad enough … this is out and out cheating. You can call me PC or fair weather all you want (I’m the farthes on both FWIW). I think the Patriots and the Saints should have both been penalized much worse than they were.

shaba

I think the fines are pretty large and not just ’tissue’ money. They are meant as a message to the rest of the league. They are more in line with a ‘Pete Rose’ type punishment.

Greg is banned from the NFL.
Saint’s have no chance for post season this year.
Saint’s have little chance for post season next year.

I believe Benson didn’t know, mostly because his daughter really runs it and he’s a little close to old-man senile.

Where people will start crying about the punishment is when they go after the individual players in the report with suspensions. It will impact the teams they are on. Suddenly leniency will be the public opinion.

Doug

Com Goodell diligence to protecting the integrity of the game will preserve the future of the NFL. I doubt that many teams out there will be made an example of this extreme. Now someone needs to address the referees horibble penalty calls.

Lance Newberry

“conduct detrimental to the league and players”

Is he talking about 18 game seasons and playing regular season games in Europe?

Bay area rogue

The Rogue knows why there was no bounty on smith. Why would you want him out of the game? He will eventually help the defense out. Payton and williams deserve to get suspended for their own stupidity in getting caught. The bounties will go on. Just have to watch out for “rats” like williams. This is a business. When someone gets in the way of success/profits they get a contract put on their ass. This goes back to former world leaders, JFK, popes and the COSA NOSTRA. It will never go away.

Robert Rowell’s Fired A##

Oh, I doubt very much that bounties will go on anymore. When a high profile coach like Payton is suspended for a year (admittedly in large part because he lied to the commissioner), other coaches and organizations will take notice.

Will bounties be back? Yep. Will it be anytime soon (like the next 10 years)? Absolutely not.

Ninersdoittoo

Don’t think for one second that all the other teams do not practice the same system. Especially the 49’ers. They were the ones delivering dirty hits in the NFC championship game, not the Saints. I’m really surprised to see so many San Francisco fans on message boards whining about the Saints. You idiots won thanks to Williams.
I was even more surprised that there are so many football fans in San Fran, always heard that werent any real men left in that town, more like a figure skating crowd.